Vodafone begins drone tracking and safety technology trials

Global telecommunications company Vodafone has initiated a series of trials to test its new 4G internet of things (IoT) based drone tracking and safety technology, which is expected to help drone operators and air traffic control bodies.

The technology will also help security and intelligence services to stop terrorists who could use drones to carry small but lethal explosive payloads to attack locations targeted using GPS.

It is further set to support the European Commission’s ‘U-space’ vision for innovative and safe drone operations.

“This groundbreaking innovation by Vodafone will help to ensure the skies stay safe as drones become ubiquitous, everywhere.”

The latest round of trials will be conducted under a collaboration between Vodafone and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Vodafone Group chief technology officer Johan Wibergh said: “This groundbreaking innovation by Vodafone will help to ensure the skies stay safe as drones become ubiquitous, everywhere.”

The new technology is primarily designed to safeguard aircraft from disastrous accidents and prevent accidental or criminal incursions of drone at sensitive locations such as airports, prisons and hospitals.

It involves Vodafone’s radio positioning system (RPS) for drones, which uses a 4G modem and SIM embedded within each drone to allow real-time drone tracking with up to 50m accuracy.

The technology can allow over-the-horizon/beyond line-of-sight control operations to reduce the risk of accidental incursions when operators lose sight of their drones.

It also facilitates protective geofencing by enabling pre-programmed drones to land automatically or return to the operator when approaching predetermined exclusion zones, including airports and prisons.

Emergency remote control intervention, as well as SIM-based e-identification and owner registration, can also be carried out using the new technology.

Vodafone plans to further trial the technology in Spain and Germany this year and intends to make the technology available for commercial use next year.